The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-28
THE BIGGEST PENSION.
bow over $4,000 was Paidto a Blind
Vagrant.

l A dispatch from Elmira, N. Y, to the
New York Evening Post says: Recently
khe newspapers made note of the fact that
4 large back pension, said to have been the
largest ever paid on an ordinary. claim, was
obtained from Pension Agent ]. T. Poole,
Iof Syracuse, for a resident of this city.
|There is a story involved in the transaction
(which duplicates some prominent men here
lin a way that can hardly fail to be detri-
mental to their standing in the community.
|The pensioner is named Francis Patterson.
land the amount that was obtained for him
twas $4,000 and $40 fees. Patterson is In
Icompetent to manage his own affairs. He
Twas a soldier In the civil war, and the big
pension that has just been paid to him was
obtained on the ground OF his having been
| so injured as to lose the sight Of both his
ewes. He has been vagrant about Elmira
for many years, supported sometimes by the
public and at other times by his wife and
Children who have always been a thriftless
set. People of Elmira are familiar with the
spectacle of this man being led about the
streets by dog, which had cord attached
it. The mans habits were as dissolute as
they could be in his impecunious condition.
Every cent he could get he spent for LIQUOR.
so that his existence was divided between
the aims house and the lookup, as want and
whisky dictated.
Pattersons application for pension was
pending in Washington a good many wears.
A. B. Callahan of this city being for most
part the Migrants attorney for this DUR
pose. When, two weeks ago, news was re-
ceived here that Pattersons enormous claim
had been allowed, DR.. N. R. Mills, phy-
scian of this city who had been interested
in pushing the claim, went to the Oyerseeri
of the Poor, and, informing him of the
fact, told him he need not afford the va
grant any more assistance, and that he CDR.
. Mills had become guardian to Patterson.
| The Overseer went to the City Attorney,
Hosea II. Rockwell, with DR.. Mills story
and asked him what if any steps were need
ed to protect the pensioner in the possession
of his money. Knowing the irresponsibility
of Patterson, City Attorney Rockwell ad-
vised that commission be obtained in the
legal way. Application was thereupon
made to the County Judge for ascertaining
the pensioners mental condition and for the
appointment of proper guardian in case it
was declared to be necessary Several citi-
zens and Patterson's daughter, Mrs. Ellen
Dobson, Joined in the petition to the court,
and affidavits were made by competent ply
sicians On these representations County
Judge Dexter appointed a commission to take
testimony relative to Patterson's lunacy and
his character as an habitual drunkard
Meantime City Attorney Rockwell mott
| fed Pension Agent Poole, at Syracuse. of the
situation, and suggested that he withhold
| payment of Patterson's money till its safety
could be provided for. The agent replied
that it was the largest pension ever paid by
the United States to an individual, and that
he would not hand over the money until adj
vised by the Elmira authorities The no.
tce of the appointment of the Lunacy
Commission by Judge Dexter was made on
nxa H., nj
Charles FL. Knipp, of the law firm of You
MANS Mills & Knipp, taking the blind Pat
terson, went to Syracuse and demanded the
$4,000. The agent showed them the CITY
Attorneys letter, and declined for the pres
ent to pay over the money unless ordered to
do so from the Pension Bureau at Washing
ton.
Knipp thereupon telegraphed to his former
law partner, E. B. Youmans, who is Chief
Clerk of the Treasury Department, with
reference to the refusal of Agent Poole to
pay. In due course of telegraphic cores
pondence between Syracuse and Washing
ton an order came from the Commissioner
OF Pensions to the agent to pay over the
money. The agent thereupon made pay
ment to the pensioner or to Mills q Knipps
for him, in five drafts of s., 500 each, and
one of $500, retaining $40 in fees.
When the jury met to hear tesmony in
INC luudCJ proceedings, Mills O. hulpp dp-
peared as attorneys to object to the pro-
Ceedings on the ground that the Sheriff had
not been able to find the subject of the in
quiry. Adjournment was thereupon had to
yesterday. Meantime the blind vagrant
had been found by the Sheriff secreted at
low place known as the Halfway House, be-
tween Elmira and Households. When the
inquiry opened yesterday, Lawyer Knipp
again asked for an adjournment until Sat
fol n11a
sell in Washington, saying that the sender
had seen Chief Clerk Youmans, and that
he (BiSselD would be here on that day if an
adjournment could be had. The Commits
sion refused the adjournment, and abun-
dant evidence was produced to prove the
blind pensioner an habitual drunkard and
lunatic, incompetent to receive the pension
money or to manage his own affairs. The
testimony was reported to the county
Judge, who will appoint guardians for Pat
terson.
Before the Lunacy Commission the Presi-
dent of the First National Bank testified
that ON Friday last DR.. Mills appeared at
the bank with the pensioner and deposited
the pension money, taking one certificate
for $4,000, and another for $500; that the
next day Mills brought the 81, 500 certificate
endorsed by Patterson's mark and drew the
money, saying he intended to buy a house
this week Mills & Knipp both appeared at
the bank with sachel and demanded the
$4,000; that the bank refused to let the
money go that the next day they reap
peared, converted S., 1000 of the money into
Amortgage duly assigned to the lunatic
Patterson, and took a new negotiable certlf-
cate for $1,000. Soon after this transaction
John Laidlaw of this city, procuring llv-
cry team, took the pensioner and his wife
she had returned to the old man-and drove
them to Troy, Pa, about thirty miles south
of Elmira. DIR. Mills took the next train
for Troy, but instead of stopping there he
Invent on to Williamsport, from which point
he telegraphed Laidlaw to come on with the
Old man and his wife,
While in Troy Laidlaw and the imbecile
pensioner and wife lived in high style, hay
ing their meals sent to their rooms, and in
dulging in the luxuries of the season. These
latter facts were sworn to before the Lunacy
Commission yesterday by Rochester COM
mercial traveller named f. p. Hinkston,
who encountered the well-moDeyed party at
Troy.
The case has created good deal OF talk
here on account especially of the active con-
nection Of the lawyer, who is Chief Clerk
Youmans' partner. The friends of MIR.
Youmans are anxious TO hear an cxplana-
- -. ID. ANaaa n